The Challenge
A Union for Peace and Justice – The European Union
Believing that the community you are a part of is based on good values and good practice is essential. If you believe this, you are willing to contribute. If you don’t, you will opt out. There is a real problem within the European Union when it comes to this belief. And the factor of democracy is crucial. The time has come for the European Union to show itself worthy of its citizen’s trust and belief.
To make the European Union based on peace and justice, in the minds of the citizens, there is need for change in the ways decisions are made. The politicians, working with a popular mandate, need a strong partner; the Civil Society. Otherwise democracy will not work in the long run. Why? The basic concept is trust. Trust between people in the community. Trust, numerous scientific reports show us, is built trough meetings.
Closed negotiations between Governments can no longer be the prime decision making method in a European Union that wants to be truly democratic. To find a balanced way of making the important decisions more transparent and based in relevant experiences is one of the challenges that our Union must face.
If we want this to happen, we can no longer just talk about it. We must act. We must give more room for the organisations where millions of Europeans put their energy, their hope and their work: the Civil Society.
Critics may say that this is naïve. They would of course be right. Belief in the good is always naïve. But the alternative, is nevertheless not viable.
NGOforum09 will give clear strategic recommendations on how to engage in this challenge. Take part in the exiting process of turning the European Union into our Union!”
